As I write this, I am three days from another birthday. When I look back on life, I can see God working in every part. We all go through life-changing events. Nearly everyone can include marriage, the birth of children, and grandchildren on the list. Still, I will set those aside for the moment and … Continue reading Life Changing Events
Pastor
Spiritual Basic Training
At my graduation ceremony from basic training for the US Army, the speaker came out, stood behind the podium, took a giant deep breath, and said, "Finally, you made it!" The latter half of the last chapter of Ephesians (chapter six) lists the spiritual weapons Christians need to fight the good fight and live a … Continue reading Spiritual Basic Training
Warnings From Jeremiah
As I read Jeremiah, I cannot help but see the parallels between the United States and Israel of old. Do not get me wrong; Israel is God's nation. God gives promises to Israel that belong to no other country, but there are striking similarities in spiritual history. God makes it clear that Jeremiah is a … Continue reading Warnings From Jeremiah
The Cop In Me
I worked for the United States Justice Department, Federal Bureau of Prisons, for twenty-two years. I retired on the last day of 2009. Outside the fence, I was a Pastor, but inside the wall, I was a guard. I was involved in my share of criminal investigations inside the prison. In one case, by gathering … Continue reading The Cop In Me
Preachers
A writer will sometimes get "writer's block." This condition is especially true with fiction writers. Developing a character or moving a scene along in a way that keeps the reader's interest sometimes takes hours of thought and trial and error. In non-fiction writing, the author collects data, facts, and quotes and formulates them into a … Continue reading Preachers
Church Attendance
Nearly everyone has attempted to hit a baseball. With the little guys, we'll place the ball on a T but give them the same instructions as older kids being pitched too - keep your eye on the ball, swing level, choke up on the bat, and so on. Without practice, the little guys will never … Continue reading Church Attendance
Seeking A Church Home
Loyalty is one of my attributes. I am loyal to my God, family, church, country, and employer. The list goes on, but those are the main things. You may have noticed that God and church are listed separately. That is because they are not one and the same - the church is not my God, … Continue reading Seeking A Church Home
Finding An Expert
We all have experts in our lives, people who know more than we do about a particular subject. When we have a physical ailment that home or over-the-counter remedies will not cure, we go to a doctor - a medical expert. People see an attorney - a law expert - if legal issues arise. If … Continue reading Finding An Expert
Poor In Spirit
"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:3. Look at the promise given to the poor in spirit! The kingdom of heaven, which is salvation, eternal life. You may be thinking, "I thought salvation was through faith." It is. There are hundreds of verses that announce that … Continue reading Poor In Spirit
Christian Apathy
John the Baptist and Jesus Christ preached the same message. Matthew 3:1-2, "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17, "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven … Continue reading Christian Apathy
Preacher's Point 